Aug. 30, 2014 LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - Former UNLV men's tennis standout Joel Kielbowicz teamed with Jacqueline Cako on Friday in the first round of the main draw of the 2014 US Open but lost a close match to end the duo's run in mixed doubles.

Kielbowicz, a native of Henderson and graduate of Green Valley High School, was a two-time All-Mountain West Conference singles and doubles player during his four year career playing for the Rebels from 2003-06.

Playing yesterday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., Kielbowicz and Cako fell to another American team, Taylor Townsend and Donald Young, 7-5, 6-3.

Kielbowicz and Cako had earned the main draw spot in the Grand Slam event earlier this month by winning the US Open National Playoffs Mixed Doubles Championship held at Yale University in New Haven, Conn.

Friday's appearance at the US Open marked Kielbowicz' Grand Slam debut and Cako's first showing as a professional. She previously played the US Open girls' singles event in 2009, when she reached the second round.

Cako, 22, is a former All-American at Arizona State. She has been a standout on the USTA Pro Circuit, winning four Pro Circuit doubles in 2012 and climbing to No. 169 in the doubles rankings that year.

Kielbowicz, 31, peaked at No. 479 in the world doubles rankings in 2007 and has won seven Futures doubles titles. He closed his collegiate career at UNLV with a singles record of 52-39.